Okay, this is already a ton of fun. I can already see signs of why this is so well-liked and appreciated. The story is interesting, the characters are varied and delightful, and the cooking element really brings something to it that is just nice. I hope to get to read the next one soon!
Be prepared for this one to be rough when you go in. This volume focuses pretty heavily on a character whose trouble originates in her being sexually assaulted and struggling to deal with the rumors and gossip surrounding what happened to her. For what it was and what unfolded in the story, it was handled well in my opinion, but it's still rough and still has mild brief depictions of the assault.
The remaining part of the volume deals with Hokuto befriending a foreign woman working for a host club and trying to help her out of a tough situation. I found this annex chapter interesting, as Hokuto seems very open to befriending and embracing gaijin, which is surprising and feels forward-thinking given the time this was originally released and a lot of its contemporary media and the mindset of Japan at the time? I suppose I'm not too shocked, given this is a CLAMP title, but it was still a pleasant surprise nonetheless!
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
So far, this has really kept me interested and intrigued about the kind of world and society set up here, and the characters I've met in volume 1 I've all really enjoyed! I'm hoping I'll enjoy volume 2 as well!
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It took this one a while to really get going but I'm glad it took the direction it did and that the ending was one I could enjoy. Don't misunderstand, I still find this series to be overhyped and over-praised on the internet. It's not bad but the degree to which people put this duology on a pedestal is disheartening. Mostly I'm just glad I finally got through this.
What even is this clusterfuck of a mess? Half-baked attempts to weave together the plot threads with a bunch of deus ex machina all throw in a blender in an attempt to make something cohesive.
Understand, there were points of this one that were enjoyable but those were few and far between. This was a MESS and as of present, I don't think there's a single character that isn't annoying the absolute crap out of me. What happened to her writing? For real, what happened? This is a hot mess.
Like many other people I'm sure, I'm familiar with Jonathan Sims thanks due to the podcast The Magnus Archives, and I like to think that's given me some familiarity with the way he writes. This book has proven that to be true, but beyond this, I won't say much else.
I really, really enjoyed this book, but I insist you go in totally blind. If you're a fan of Jonny's writing, I think you'll like it. If you're new to his writing but are looking for a decent horror novel, I also think you'll like it. But again, go in blind. I think it's better if you do.
This one is so emotionally raw. I know there are fun moments and steamy moments, but what we get in here is genuinely so raw, so emotionally charged, and honestly between that and the way that the narrative continues to come together well? I really, really adore this story!